Where Nature Meets Material: The Cotto D’Este Journey

Design Ideas Inspired by the 4 Elements

Elemental Space is a fascinating concept that revolves around the integration of the four natural elements – earth, water, fire, and air – into architecture and interior design. This approach aims to create spaces that not only are aesthetically appealing, but promote well-being and balance as well.

Earth. Earth represents stability and strength. In design, this translates into the use of natural materials or materials inspired by wood, stone, and clay, which provide a sense of warmth, comfort, and texture.

Water. Water is synonymous with fluidity and tranquillity. In addition to fountains and aquariums, even simply incorporating decorative elements in shades of blue or green that recall water can further amplify this effect.

Fire. Fire represents energy and transformation. Candles or warm lighting can make a space feel dynamic and intimate, but colours like red, orange, and yellow can also evoke the heat created by the presence of fire.

Air. Air is associated with lightness and freedom. To incorporate this element, one can use large windows, open spaces, and natural ventilation. The use of lightweight fabrics and light colours can also contribute to creating a bright and airy environment.

The following are some of the collections from Cotto d’Este that embody the concept of Elemental Space through exceptional realism and the perfect compatibility of surfaces and cladding.

When matter meets creativity, the result is always original and captivating.

Cement Project is a versatile, 5.5 mm thick collection in which the typically “urban” personality of concrete is reimagined in vast spaces and architectural contexts, enriched and diversified through new formats and surfaces. Cem is inspired by hand-trowelled concrete floors, reproducing the strokes of the craftsman’s movements. Meanwhile, Work pays tribute to the traditional wooden formwork used by carpenters for reinforced concrete structures, which leaves behind traces of the wood’s knots and fibres. 

Pietra d'Iseo recalls the natural elements by emulating a typical stone from Lombardy, the Ceppo di Grè, traditionally used for the buildings, villas, and monuments that characterize the city of Milan’s architecture.

The surface of this stone, with its irregular design and tone-on-tone greys, adds character and elegance to any environment, also thanks to the wide variety of formats offered and two different thicknesses (6.5 mm and 20 mm), perfect for establishing aesthetic continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces. The collection is available in two finishes: Naturale, a matte surface with a textured feel, exhibits a subtle patina effect that makes it soft and welcoming, featuring delicate nuances of colour and exceptional depth and Bocciardata, a finish that mimics a hammered surface, perfect for outdoor use as it greatly enhances slip resistance.

Grunge captures the authentic appearance of the material that inspired it, transforming it into extremely realistic matte surfaces that are alive and vibrant and that represent the most elegant expression of contemporary concrete. The effects of time, the inclusion of inert materials, the halos left from the evaporation of water: here the natural ageing of poured cement achieves perfect balance and the utmost chromatic harmony. Grunge is a ceramic concrete that is distinctly different and authentically unique. It exhibits an aesthetic movement that is harmonious in both its colour transitions and graphic texture, with a wealth of nuances yet always composed and sophisticated, translating the unmistakeable personality of raw cement into elegant and highly realistic ceramic surfaces that faithfully reproduce the subtle roughness of the material and pair perfectly with soft and natural décor, such as wood or rattan.

Lithos represents the evolution of stone, a product of extensive research and constant experimentation that has made it possible to blend the texture of stone with the aesthetics of the rarest marbles in the world, creatively reimagined by Cotto d’Este in a unique, sophisticated, and exciting project that offers a variety of surfaces to admire, touch, and feel. The collection also showcases Cotto d’Este’s remarkable ability to come up with stunning new finishes, enhanced with a variety of graphic effects that give each one a unique personality.

The extreme practicality and durability of Cotto d’Este’s thick porcelain stoneware combined with the natural beauty of real wood. The 14 mm thick porcelain stoneware guarantees a tensile strength 3 times greater than traditional 10mm thick stoneware. The exceptional technical characteristics ensure long-lasting durability without the risk of breakage. Cadore, with its warm and vibrant hues, conveys all the warmth and comfort of wood, but with the durability and technical characteristics of porcelain stoneware.

Wonderwall is an exclusive project that features motifs usually found on wallpaper. This collection allows individuals to express their personality through decorations that play with perspective and make walls stand out with a combination of colours and graphics. Among the 19 exquisite decorations, featuring rich textures and elegant designs printed in high definition, those that depict landscapes or natural elements have the power to enrich and completely transform the atmosphere of a room, even if installed on just one wall. These over-sized, ultra-thin Kerlite slabs, measuring 100x300 cm and reinforced with fibreglass, are thin and lightweight, yet remarkably durable, perfect for interior design projects that seek to create unique and prestigious environments within architectural spaces.

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